YSES Newsletter

January 27 - End of Term 2, Teacher Work Day - No classes

January 28 - First day of Term 3

February 9 - Term 2 Report Cards mailed

February 15 - President's Day - No classes

Dear Families,

I hope this message finds you well. By now you have heard that FCPS plans to move to the hybrid model of instruction for students on Tuesday, February 16th. With this announcement comes many questions of what does this mean for my child(ren)? I was fortunate to answer some questions for families this week at Tuesday night’s PTA meeting and thought the information shared would be beneficial to everyone.

Q – Will my child’s teacher change when the hybrid schedule is implemented?

A – There is the potential for your child’s teacher to change regardless of selecting hybrid or virtual instruction. Our model for instruction has teachers assigned to a virtual only group of students or hybrid only students.

Q – When will I find out my child’s teacher assignment?

A – Families will be notified via email of their child’s teacher during the week of February 1st. The email will include information for hybrid students new to YSES this year regarding a tour of the building.

Q – If I chose hybrid for my child, when will he/she attend?

A – Students attending school for hybrid instruction will be in the school building two days per week. These students will be assigned a cohort. Cohort A is in the school building on Mondays and Tuesdays. Cohort B is in the building on Thursdays and Fridays.

Q – If my child is in the school two days of the week, what do they do the other three days of the week?

A – Students will attend Google Meets and complete assignments independently from home.

Q – Will my children attend on the same day (be in the same cohort)?

A – Yes, siblings have been aligned through high school, middle school, and elementary school to attend the same cohort days.

Q – What about Wednesday instruction?

A – All students will access instruction virtually.

Q – What is the school schedule? What are the hours for school?

A – Our school day will be from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, with arrival starting at 8:30am and dismissal starting at 2:00pm. There will be times at 2:30 where teachers will meet virtually with groups of students that were not in the building that day.

Q – What safety procedures will be in place?

A – Students will be required to wear masks. Students will be sitting in desks that are six feet apart from another student. Frequent handwashing and hand sanitizing will be encouraged.

Q – My child will ride the bus to school. How will that work?

A – Students and bus drivers must wear a mask while on the bus. There will be one child per seat.

Q – How will lunch be served?

A – Students will eat at their desk in their classroom. Lunch is available for all students through grab and go stations throughout the building. All students will be offered free breakfast, lunch and take-home dinner.

Q – How will recess occur?

A – Students will go outside as weather permits. Classes will be assigned a zone to stay within their class group at recess.

I appreciate everyone’s patience and flexibility as we move to this new phase of our school year. Families on Tuesday evening asked me what I needed to help with this new phase. I shared that I need families help in preparing students for yet another change during this global pandemic. Children look to their family for how to embrace change and respond to uncertainty. Your positive reaction will help our students be ready for this change and be ready to SOAR!

With the disruption to our normal routines, we recognize that families may have different arrangements for childcare. Please respond to let us know the pickup and dropoff address for your child(ren) if they are using FCPS bus transportation. We are asking everyone who is riding the bus to respond, even if your transportation hasn't changed from previous years. If all children from your family have the same transportation information, you can list all of them in one response. Click the link to complete the Google form: Transportation Google Form

Dear Parents,

Next week, FCPS is celebrating Civility Week. During this week, schools are asked to demonstrate how they show kindness and respect by participating in the Kindness Challenge. The schedule below outlines our plans for the week (Monday and Tuesday’s activities will be done during synchronous learning time):

In addition, we are creating a video of photos and photos of artwork created by students doing acts of kindness at home, in their neighborhoods and in the community. This could include activities such as writing a kind note, cleaning up trash, recycling, smiling and being friendly or helping out around the house. Students may also submit photos of artwork that illustrates the themes of kindness and respect. In order to participate, please send photos (no videos, please) to ann.workmeister@fcps.org by Thursday, January 28. The video will be sent to all families on Friday, January 29.

From January 1st to January 31st, YSES will participate in Beanstack’s Fourth Annual Winter Reading Challenge, “Book Like Us,” sponsored by Simon and Schuster (S&S). Mrs. Hyatt is challenging you to read at least 300 minutes during the month and keep track of your reading on our Beanstack site at the Yellow Springs Media Center Homepage. Thousands of libraries and schools across the nation will encourage their communities to read a target number of minutes and books.

Link to Beanstack Guide for Families: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12odilpvum9oB100GeZCJFYYbqNY3Qy84DzD8Sywq1uE/edit?usp=sharing

FCPS is replacing some of the older models of chromebooks. Any student who is currently using one of these models will be contacted to arrange exchanging the device for a newer model. After January 27th, the older model chromebooks will no longer work.

FCPS schools are closed Wednesday, January 27, for a teacher work day. Meals will not be distributed on that day. Meals will be distributed based on the schedule below:

Monday, January 25: Meals will be distributed for Monday, January 25, through Thursday, January 28, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The regular schedule will resume on Friday, January 29.

For more information, please call 301-644-5198. A full list of distribution sites is also posted online with complete information on the student meal service program.

Mrs. Workmeister's websites:

For parents:

https://sites.google.com/fcps.org/yellow-springs-elementary/home

For students:

https://sites.google.com/fcps.org/yellow-springs-es/home

Helpful article: Talking to Kids About the Violence at the US Capitol

FCPS MAY RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (under Public Law 81-874) based on the number of pupils whose parents are in active military service or whose parents live or work on federal property in Maryland.

All parents should have received a survey link via email from PowerSchoolRegistration on December 2, 2020. Please complete the survey as soon as possible when you receive it.

This survey is conducted annually.

The City of Frederick Parks and Recreation Winter Program Brochure is now available at https://cityoffrederickmd.gov/255/Parks-Recreation.

Program and league registration is open and can be done online at http://www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/webtrac

or by calling 301-600-1492.

Email: kimberly.manley@fcps.org
Website: education.fcps.org/yses
Location: 8717 Yellow Springs Road
Phone: (240)236-1700